By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
Many small contractors lack the administrative skills to execute a construction contract, the Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president said yesterday, adding that this led many to incorrectly value project costs.
Godfrey Forbes said this often led to disputes arising between contractors and consumers. “We no longer want it to be a guessing game,” he said.
Mr Forbes explained that the administrative aspects of construction were the highlight of a two week, 40-hour course the BCA has been running in conjunction with the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI).
“It has been primarily targeted towards the administrative aspect of construction. We had approximately 130 local contractors who participated in the exercise,” Mr Forbes said.
“I wouldn’t say that I was pleased with the number. However, there are a number of factors that some contractors may have been facing. We couldn’t do the same thing for all the other Family Islands.
“We made an attempt to offer it in Eleuthera because we thought Eleuthera had enough numbers to go ahead and make it viable,” Mr Forbes explained.
“Many of the Bahamian contractors are highly skilled but a lot of people are not as knowledgeable as to how things are actually put together, and to ensure that the management of it all is properly carried out.
“That aspect of the construction business has never really been offered to any of those individuals who would have been out there in the field for many years. When it comes to the administrative side of it they are totally lost. While they do good work, they may find themselves extremely challenged when it comes to managing the financing of it.”
The Level 1 training course was offered as a part of a ‘Strengthening of the BCA’ project made possible by a $225,000 grant, $150,000 of which came via the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and $75,000 from the BCA.
The Level 1 training course covered topics such as project administration and finance, tendering, estimating works and contract negotiation.
“The foundation that was needed to be laid has been laid. We have the formula that has been developed and it will make it easier for us going forward,” said Mr Forbes.
“The practical part will suffer if you don’t have the theory. Practically, many contractors can put together a pretty good product, but find themselves lacking in the administrative product. We think that this course really shed some light on that.”
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